Senior International Cricket Council (ICC) officials have been to Pakistan to secure the country’s participation in this year’s One-Day International (ODI) World Cup in India, which had been in doubt due to political issues.
India has declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, preferring that the tournament be hosted in a neutral country, prompting a tit-for-tat response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
This month, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi told Reuters that there was a “very real possibility” of Pakistan boycotting the World Cup in India if PCB’s request to host at least some Asia Cup matches on home soil was not accepted.
The PCB said in a statement that ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice would arrive in Lahore on Tuesday for a two-day tour to meet Sethi and other cricket authorities.
“That’s something that’s obviously ongoing at the moment,” ICC General Manager Wasim Khan said during a virtual press conference on Monday when questioned about Pakistan’s World Cup participation.
“Our CEO, Geoff Allardice, and Greg are currently in Pakistan discussing a number of issues with the PCB hierarchy.”
“But it’s certainly up to the two countries and the ICC hierarchy to discuss them and come to some conclusions,” former PCB CEO Khan remarked.
The Asian Cricket Council, which is led by Indian board secretary Jay Shah, is expected to announce the Asia Cup dates and venue this week.
